US threatens to impose visa restrictions on Ghana
This
is because the US government says Ghana government was not complying
with international obligations regarding the issuance of travel
documents to Ghanaians awaiting deportation in the USA.
According to a statement issued Wednesday by the US Embassy in Accra,
the US will be forced to begin implementing the visa restrictions in
accordance with U.S. law as a responsibility owed to the American
people.
The statement said, the Government of Ghana became a signatory to the
Convention on International Civil Aviation which obliges Ghana through
its Embassy in Washington, D.C., and its Consulate General in New York
to interview deportees on a regular basis and issue the necessary travel
documents.
"This helps to facilitate deportees’ departure on commercial flights.
When the Government of Ghana fails to meet its ICAO obligation regarding
the regular issuance of travel documents, the U.S. government is forced
to employ charter flights for deportations. The Government of Ghana has
the power to reduce, or even end, the use of charter flights by meeting
its obligation to issue travel documents in a timely manner," the
statement said.
"In December 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
identified Ghana as being at risk of non-compliance on removals of those
under deportation orders. Since then, the U.S. government has
repeatedly engaged the Government of Ghana in both Washington, D.C., and
Accra and has urged the government to abide by its international
obligations and issue the necessary travel documents so that Ghanaians
under deportation orders may depart the United States on commercial
flights. If Ghana fails to comply with international obligations
regarding the issuance of travel documents, the United States may be
forced to begin implementing visa restrictions on Ghana, in accordance
with U.S. law.
"The United States of America takes its legal and human rights
obligations very seriously. In the course of enforcing U.S. immigration
laws, the U.S. government would strongly prefer that individuals under
deportation orders depart the United States via commercial air carriers,
as regular passengers. We encourage Ghanaians to abide by legal
processes if they seek to immigrate to the United States. We commend the
Government of Ghana for taking steps to promote private sector growth
that will create employment opportunities for Ghanaians; foster even
greater security; and ensure a promising future for Ghana’s youth,
thereby minimizing illegal immigration to the United States".
Stricter US visa restrictions
In September last year, US President Donald Trump's administration
announced new visa standards, saying it will discontinue blanket bans in
favour
of restrictions based on factors like whether countries share
information about travelers' criminal histories or use electronic
passports with embedded traveler information.
At the time, the US government said it would consider lifting
restrictions on one or more countries if they "have improved their
identity-management and information-sharing protocols and procedures,"
according to the proclamation.
Miles Taylor, the counselor to acting Homeland Security Secretary
Elaine Duke, said: "The goal is not to indefinitely block certain
nationals from coming to the United States. It is to protect Americans
until foreign governments do comply with our standards and no longer pose a risk."
"We had a range of countries, from total willful noncompliance and
nonengagement to countries that maybe couldn't meet the requirements but
were interested in doing so," Taylor said last week. "Some countries
didn't even have the courtesy to say, 'Go fly a kite.'"
President Donald Trump also banned or restricted visas for travel to
the United States from eight countries. The presidential restricted
visas from six countries — Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen — and
lifted restrictions on visitors from the Sudan. It added new restrictions on visitors and immigrants from Chad, North Korea and Venezuela.
The order also blocked visas for government officials on business or
tourist travel from Venezuela. For Somalia, the order blocked visas for
immigrants and provided that other travelers will be subject to extra
scrutiny.
Read a copy of US Embassy statement below;
Statement on Immigration Law and International Agreements https://t.co/rKKbhJ6PX3 #USinGhana pic.twitter.com/R7ZTBxyVRS— US Embassy Ghana (@USEmbassyGhana) June 20, 2018
Statement on Immigration Law and International Agreements
June 20, 2018
Accra, GHANA — As sovereign nations, the Governments of the United
States and Ghana each have obligations to their citizens to uphold their
laws, as well as obligations to the international community to comply
with international agreements. All nations have the right to enforce
their immigration laws. The United States embraces its special character
as a nation of immigrants, and we continue to welcome those who enter
the United States legally and respect U.S. laws. However, enforcing our
immigration laws is a responsibility we owe to the American people, just
as Ghana enforces its own laws. So far this year, Ghana has used its
own legal processes to deport 100 individuals of different nationalities
who were found to be in violation of the law.
The Government of Ghana became a signatory to the Convention on
International Civil Aviation in 1957. Under International Civil Aviation
Organization guidelines, the Government of Ghana, through its Embassy
in Washington, D.C., and its Consulate General in New York, has an
obligation to interview deportees on a regular basis and issue the
necessary travel documents. This helps to facilitate deportees’
departure on commercial flights. When the Government of Ghana fails to
meet its ICAO obligation regarding the regular issuance of travel
documents, the U.S. government is forced to employ charter flights for
deportations. The Government of Ghana has the power to reduce, or even
end, the use of charter flights by meeting its obligation to issue
travel documents in a timely manner.
In December 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
identified Ghana as being at risk of non-compliance on removals of those
under deportation orders. Since then, the U.S. government has
repeatedly engaged the Government of Ghana in both Washington, D.C., and
Accra and has urged the government to abide by its international
obligations and issue the necessary travel documents so that Ghanaians
under deportation orders may depart the United States on commercial
flights. If Ghana fails to comply with international obligations
regarding the issuance of travel documents, the United States may be
forced to begin implementing visa restrictions on Ghana, in accordance
with U.S. law.
The United States of America takes its legal and human rights
obligations very seriously. In the course of enforcing U.S. immigration
laws, the U.S. government would strongly prefer that individuals under
deportation orders depart the United States via commercial air carriers,
as regular passengers.
We encourage Ghanaians to abide by legal processes if they seek to
immigrate to the United States. We commend the Government of Ghana for
taking steps to promote private sector growth that will create
employment opportunities for Ghanaians; foster even greater security;
and ensure a promising future for Ghana’s youth, thereby minimizing
illegal immigration to the United States.
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